New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia has issued a show-cause notice to a student residing in a girls' hostel for allegedly taking emergency leave on misleading grounds and participating in a protest seeking the restoration of the students' union, which has been dissolved since 2006.
Issued by the provost of Begum Hazrat Mahal Girls' Hostel on October 27, the notice directed the student to submit a written explanation within 24 hours and warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response could lead to disciplinary action. It alleged that the student had obtained emergency leave on false or misleading grounds and was later found at or participating in the protest site. The notice described the alleged conduct as a breach of hostel discipline and asked the student to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated for allegedly misusing emergency leave.
The development comes as the university has extended online classes until November 24 and shifted its odd-semester examinations to online mode, citing concerns over the campus situation and students' safety and security. The university had earlier ordered online classes until November 8.
In an order dated October 28, the university said a meeting of deans, heads of departments, directors and other officials had assessed the campus situation and concluded that physical classes were not conducive to academic activities.
According to the order, practical, fieldwork, project, viva and minor project examinations will be held online from November 25 to November 30, while end-semester theory examinations will take place from December 1 to December 24. Winter vacation will run from December 25 to January 12, 2027, with even-semester classes scheduled to begin on January 13.
A notice circulated by the hostel's discipline committee and shared by Jamia students said residents had been asked to take compulsory leave by November 1 because academic activities had shifted online. The committee said it had raised students' concerns with the provost but was told the instructions came from higher authorities. It also said similar leave instructions would be implemented in other girls' hostels.
The university has witnessed protests for the past 18 days over students' demands for the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU) and the announcement of an election schedule.
The agitation continued despite a university order on Monday stating that students' union elections would be held within 15 days of approval of the union's constitution. According to teachers, the union was dissolved in 2006 following recurring incidents of violence and attacks on teachers, including the then vice-chancellor.
The order also revoked suspension and show-cause notices issued to students during the protest and provided for a committee to investigate the conduct of security staff during the agitation.
However, students said the decision fell short of their demands, questioning the absence of a deadline for approving the constitution.
The administration has also alleged widespread vandalism on campus, claiming gates and CCTV systems were damaged overnight during the agitation.